Southwest, Missouri is a great place to live, work and play our economy despite what the National media seems to be saying is diverse, and the opportunities that are coming together for 2009 are awesome! If you are thinking of buying a home I would encourage you to get in touch with a realtor to navigate the many homes on the market to choose from!

Opportunities for home financing are changing as well for the POSITIVE !!!! New sources of down payment funds for first time home buyers will becoming available in January and I am excited about the opportunities that first time home buyers have in Missouri in 2009.

Since there is some economic stimulus benefits available to Missouri Home buyers this year most of these benefits will be changing after or during 2009 so keeping informed of the changes is paramount to make sure you make the most of your time and take advantage of buying NOW!

First time home buyers bond money, as new bond money is released in 2009 customers in certain counties do not necessarily have to be first time home buyers in order to qualify, this has been waved until the end of 2009 for Greene, Chrsitian, Webster, Taney and Stone counties, this means Bond money is available to first time home buyers and clients who previously owned a home or just sold a home.

The $7,500 tax credit loan that is available to anyone buying a house from April 2008 to May 2009 that allows for a 0% interest loan from the IRS for those who invested or purchased a home for the first time in that time period.

There will also be a loan that will allow access to those funds in advance so that those funds can go towards the closing costs and down payment that is set to come out in January and more details will be following-

Those that are outside the city limits of Springfield may look into the USDA financing option with the exception of Nixa, Battlefield and Springfield, this option is a 100% financing option with income restrictions getting more lenient coming January 20, 2009. 

Opportunities abound in Southwest Missouri, there is a great inventory of homes on the market, if you have questions about any of these programs please feel free to contact me at 417 447 7927.

Darren Stewart

OakStar Bank